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Federal Facebook Probe Now Includes FBI, SEC: Report (apnews.com)
A federal probe into Facebook's sharing of user data with Cambridge Analytica now involves the FBI, the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Justice Department, a report said. AP: Representatives from these agencies have joined the Federal Trade Commission in the inquiry, The Washington Post reported, citing five unnamed people familiar with the matter. The probe reportedly centers on what Facebook knew in 2015, when it learned that the political data-mining firm Cambridge Analytica had improperly accessed the personal data of tens of millions of Facebook users. Facebook didn't disclose the incident with the political firm, which later worked for the Trump campaign and other Republican candidates, until this March.
As much as I'd love to see a good witch burning, I think a more realistic expectation isn't fire or even jail time. It'll be a couple million dollar fine and a shameful finger wave.
If and until fines become greater than profits for corporations bad behavior, this cycle of crap will continue.
The American way... let company do terrible things to people and get too big to fail, THEN investigate.
Laws are rules for the court, but merely a bottom bar to hit for life. Think beyond laws in your actions always.
Keep in mind that Cambridge Analytica only "improperly accessed" the data based on Facebook's new rules, the old rules and Facebook's own API allowed them access to the data they acquired. There was no "illegal access" - this was data that Facebook happily gave the Obama campaign as well as just about any company that asked.
There's no clear reason for the FBI to be involved other than continued butt-hurt over the "wrong" candidate winning the election. No one cared when Obama used the same trick to steal the election from Romney.
At minimum there's a good chance Zuckerberg is forced out over this.
he still owns a lot of facebook stock
nothing to see here - move along
the fines should be bigger than that...but maybe the lobbying will reduce them...
nothing to see here - move along
And, lock them up!
Recently some kid recorded his principal with a cellphone and is facing felony charges. Why should facebook be exempt from prosecution?
love is just extroverted narcissism
Facebook is too profitable for anyone to mess with. Zuckerberg is a very powerful and influential individual so he's practically untouchable. I'm sure a lot of people in high places own Facebook stock and they'll stop anyone or any faction from affecting Facebook's high profitability. High profits will always come before things like personal privacy protection. Zuckerberg is a winner at life and business. Nothing can stop him now. He's the second or third richest man in America so he's become some sort of a sacred icon to Wall Street. He's definitely Teflon-coated, so nothing bad can stick to him.
... this was data that Facebook happily gave the Obama campaign as well as just about any company that asked.
No they didn't. That is a lie started by Conservative Troll media (Fox News, Hannity, Rush, and all the idiots on political talk radio - and that makes you a rube.) I didn't start seeing ANYTHING from the Obama campaign until I signed up.
Now, what CA did was target people unsolicited with BS ads about immigrants , "America is for Americans only", stuff about infrastructure, and other issues that their data suggested - and targeted ads accordingly.
Trump then used that data to customize his speeches in those areas based upon data.
For example, they found that people were concerned about infrastructure and that is when Trump said that he was going to spend a Trillion dollars on roads, bridges and highways.
And why when he was in Potatohoe he railed about keeping them illegal immigrants out - even those people have no illegal immigrant problem.
And everyone seems to think facebook and CA are the problem when it's really our stupid electorate (mostly the conservatives) who lack critical thinking skills and are too lazy to really learn about the issues.
Because let's face it, Trump won on complete horseshit.
The SEC only has civil jurisdiction, not criminal. They only have the authority to sue, levy fines and prohibit future involvement by bad actors. Only the DOJ can prosecute criminally for securities fraud.
That's what we're witnessing, people, make no mistake about it. The downfall of Zuckerbook is a foregone conclusion, it's on trajectory already, and nothing is going to stop it now; Zuckerbook has committed it's sins, and now they'll have to pay the price: being dismantled, piece by piece, and nothing of value was lost. Do yourselves a favor and flee the sinking Zuckership now.
I mean, while no one likes it, under current US law, there's really NOTHING that is codified as being illegal about it, otherwise we'd be stringing up tons of companies over this type thing.
The only good thing that could come out of this, is for the US to pass at least basic privacy laws for our citizens and let it be know that WE own our own data, have rights to see/view, and opt IN if we want it shared or used for us, and can also have it removed/deleted if we wish.
I'm not much of one for most EU type laws, but that last one on data privacy could be used for a model here, if anything useful is to come out of this FB data outrage.
Light travels faster than sound. This is why some people appear bright until you hear them speak.........
I don't believe anyone should be untouchable; nor do I believe anyone IS untouchable if the crime is popular enough with those prosecuting.
One can dream of a scenario where Hillary, Trump and Zuckerberg all share a cell together.
"That's the way to do it" - Punch
OK, I'm honestly a bit confused here.
Not making a political statement, but hasn't Facebook been selling data in violation of their own policies for the last few years?
I realize how one could potentially perceive this as unfair play during the election, but by Facebook's own admission, it doesn't really seem to be much different that the rest of the data sharing going on.
Check your premises.
Given that the Russians are not about one party winning, but about divisiveness, I have to think that most posts like this these days are themselves coming out of Russian Troll Farms.
"One can dream of a scenario where Hillary, Trump and Zuckerberg all share a cell together" Which one still be the bitch?
"One can dream of a scenario where Hillary, Trump and Zuckerberg all share a cell together"
Which one still be the bitch?
Zuckerberg is probably the most feminine, with the most delicate features of the three- so probably him.
"That's the way to do it" - Punch
The problem with wanting to put your political enemies up against the wall with a cigarette and a blindfold is that there's a good chance that you yourself will either be joining them or that it'll be they who are the ones making up the firing squad.
Check your premises.
The problem with wanting to put your political enemies up against the wall with a cigarette and a blindfold is that there's a good chance that you yourself will either be joining them or that it'll be they who are the ones making up the firing squad.
Obviously it was a joke- I wouldn't really suggest anyone be executed for voting for Trump, or helping him get elected.
"That's the way to do it" - Punch
Zuck is a cuck installed by the NSA to helm the public rollout of their pet project.
At best, he believes his own bullshit. Realistically, he knows he's a useless piece of shit and he gets his marching orders from behind the scenes.
Apologies. Made the mistake of looking at Twitter earlier today, and my ability to distinguish between hyperbole and actionable rage is damaged at the moment.
Check your premises.
Because they have enough cash to be innocent?
Requiem for the American Dream
Everyone knows that these less-than-ideal traits still make the holder way better than your standard candidate.
Requiem for the American Dream
Nothing a band-aid can't fix.
Requiem for the American Dream